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December 2013

THE VEIL WAS TORN APART

The veil was a heavy curtain in the temple at Jerusalem which separated the holy place of worship from the most holy place where the high priest could enter once a year on the Day of Atonement, to offer the blood of a sacrificed animal and incense before the mercy seat to ask forgiveness of the sins of the people.

This procedure, started by Moses after leading the Hebrew nation out of Egypt, was conducted for about 1500 years by the Jewish people.

No ordinary man dared to enter the Holy of Holies. How could a sinful man approach a holy God? They didn’t dare. Then 2013 years ago, a man led a completely sinless life. He was able to do this because he was born without a sin nature, which we all inherit from our fathers.

After leading a perfect life, this man was put to death. When he died, the veil in the Jewish temple was torn from the top to the bottom, signifying that every person has access to a holy God. Not by the blood of an animal or a priest but by the blood of the one and only Son of God. No wonder we celebrate his birth.

Merry Christmas everybody.

HUNTER DAVIS WHITEAUSTIN MILLER WHITE

Hunter White joined the Marines in 2008 fresh out of high school. Two years later he was in Afghanistan in an engineer unit building roads and FOBs. After he arrived back and was at his base in California he met Allison, a Marine sergeant. Six months after they were married, Allison was deployed to Africa. Hunter finished his tour and is going to electronics trade school.

No sooner did Hunter leave the service, his younger brother, Austin joined the Marines fresh out of high school. When he finished boot camp in August 2013, his mother made the trip to CA. for the second time to see a son graduate. Their mother, Diane Kingsbury, has worked at Pyburns since 1994. Diane is very proud of her sons. Their sister, Kaylin, has no desire to be in the military but she is also proud of her brothers.

Austin is studying communications. His grandmother, June White, knows about communicating as a former pastor of Almeda U. Methodist Church. Austin doesn’t plan to go into that type of communication, instead he plans to become a police officer.

We are thankful that Hunter is home safely in CA. and pray that Austin will return safely also.

CLIFTON WILLIAMS PAYS TO SERVE

For the last five years, without a reminder, Williams sends in a check to put an adin Our News. He advertises his Ministry of Prayer to pray for anyone who calls. And he refuses to accept money from anyone. Why does he do it?“The good part of God’s Spirit shared with others brings joy. And once you receive that joy you have to share it,” says William. Most of the time he just listens. Isn’t that hard to listen for 30 minutes or more? “If it’s God’s calling for you it is not that difficult.”

For a boy raised in the Heights with six siblings, William has had some interesting experiences. Although he went to church with his family, he didn’t become a Christian until one night, at the age of 25, he heard an evangelist on TBN and responded personally to the person of Jesus Christ. Then he decided to travel to Israel. The first time he took a tour. A year later he and a friend went on their own. They were able to camp out at the Garden Tomb, catch a bus to Egypt, swim in the Nile river to name a few adventures. William decided to live in Ethiopia, so he leased his house on Ingomar Way at S. Post Oak to his brother. After spending five years overseas, William returned in 2009.

It is hard to believe that William is an introvert as he will walk up to a perfect stranger in places like the hip hop club on South Post Oak, look a person right in the eye and ask them, Do you know that Jesus Christ loves you very, very much? Then he hands a plain leaflet he prints out himself with his number if they want to talk or ask him to pray.

To William, the ultimate form of praise and worship is street evangelism. He has discovered that most of the time a person’s problem stem from having an unforgiving attitude.

Besides his prayer ministry, working full time, at United Protective Services, and getting married, he started a prison ministry at his church where once a month they go to Darrington, Carol Vance, and Pam Lyncher prisons.

He is a busy man who takes time to listen to people and to God. When he prays, he starts with praise and worship, then he asks God for His thoughts on whatever the problem is.

ALMEDA TELEPHONE BOOK

In 1947, the Almeda Community Church published a telephone book for the residents. Only one resident had a number with the street address and that was Isom McKnelly on 12433 Ambrose. Others gave the name of the street but most were just listed as Almeda, Tex. Roy Davison, L. B. Breckenridge, S. L. Hood, W. P. Hughes, C. E. Love, Lee McBride W. B. Moody, John Myrick, S. H. Redick, Edw. Walker, were listed as Pierce Junction as they lived in the oil field camps. J. Mayfield was listed on Holmes Road.

Alum Road residents were considered part of Almeda as the names of Herbert and Wm. Allum, were included. Interesting thing about the five Allum brothers—four were crippled. According to Allen Kaufhold their mom gave them a well known remedy for stomach ache called calamine and it deteriorated their bones. Their home had a small forest of crepe myrtle trees back when you could drive four or five miles without seeing a tree. Other residents on Allum Road were Hugh Hand, Winona Harper, C. L. Hataway, Marie Heilig, Geo. Heisner, Herbert Lee, Geo. Palmer, Henry Taub, E. J. Walicek and W. H. Talley. Talley had an ad for drilling water wells-no city water back then.

An advertisement for Flowerland Nursery said it was 4 1/2 miles from the Houston city limits. As I recall the nursery was a little south of Reed Road so Houston city limits was still about nine miles north of the Almeda post office.

The post office was between Sherman advertised as Almeda’s Leading Grocery and the Almeda Grocery (now Pyburn’s) The Almeda Grocery had more business and they also sold feed, gas and oil.

The building that is now Parker’s Hardware was the Almeda Feed and Supply. They advertised feed, paint, kitchenware, concrete culverts and septic tanks. No city sewage. You had to furnish your own culverts if you bought a piece of property and needed to cross a ditch.

More from the telephone book another time.

SPARK PARK DEDICATION

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Almeda School on Nov. 20th to dedicate the Spark Park with its walking trail and an outdoor classroom built around a tree. Former principal, Beverly Cage talked to Kathleen Ownby, the director of the Spark Park program and plans were made for a park in 2009 but then Almeda School was torn down. When the school was rebuilt, plans resumed upon Mrs. Cage’s request. Although she is at another school now she was asked to cut the ribbon.

To commemorate the occasion a flag recently flown at the Texas capitol was presented to Principal, Max Pope who said, “Spark Park is an indication of a place in the heart of Texans for children and perhaps the children who will use the park will someday have a place in their hearts for their children.”

Grace Rodriquez was commended for all the work she had done to keep things running smoothly.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANEL

The CAP held their monthly meeting at AkzoNobel and received information on air quality and what the chemical plants do to prevent exposing the public to dangerous pollutants and odors.

Nalco Champion and AkzoNobel optimize efficiencies in manufacturing through control systems and use scrubbers to remove emissions that result from their operations. Yes they do keep the floors quite clean but the scrubbers are used to clean the air before it leaves the plant. There many scrubber designs including packed towers that create surface contact with the scrubbing agent and provide efficiencies up to 99% of contaminant emissions. These scrubbers have permit conditions by which the plants must operate within.

Remember VOC’s or Volatile Organic Compounds and NOx Oxides of Nitrogen cause ozone. The scrubbers used in plants are one way Houston has reached an 87% reduction of VOC’s.

At Akzo Nobel, the chemicals cleaned out by the scrubbers are treated and pumped down into a 6,000-7000 foot non-haz “deep well”. The mechanical integrity of the well is checked regularly so there is absolutely no problem of water wells or the environment being contaminated.

Nalco Champion doesn’t have a well but they have a temporary 90-day holding site okayed by TCQ. They also use a flare to burn off some of their chemical pollutants with a rate of 98% reduction of vapors when they can’t use the scrubber.

It is amazing how many regulations, reports, and data a chemical plant is required to maintain and submit.

When we paint our house it gives off VOC’s. When the chemical plant paints anything they have to figure the amount of VOC’s a gallon of paint emits. When asked what would happen if they didn’t report something. They laughed. That was not going to happen because as one person said, “I don’t look good in an orange jump suit.”

To attend the meetings call Mary Jane Naquin at 713-993-9317 or email m.j.naquin@argolink.net

HAPPINESS RULES

Rule 1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries. 3. Live simply.

4. Give more. 5. Expect less.

This guy didn’t get what he expected.

An Illinois man pretended to have a gun, kidnapped a motorist. and forced him to drive to two ATM’s. The kidnapper then proceeded to withdraw money from his own account.

PRISON TIME FOR VOTING FRAUD

Sonia Leticia Solis pleaded guilty in federal court in Brownsville to voting multiple times in a 2012 primary runoff election.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Solis forged absentee ballot applications for people she claimed were disabled. The scheme gave the 55-year-old five additional votes in the runoff election for the newly created 34th Congressional District. Solis faces five years in prison.

God, “There you did it again.” “Moe, “Did what?” God, “You called me. You said, “Our Father which art in heaven. Here I am. What’s on your mind?” Moe, “I didn’t mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord’s Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like getting a duty done.” God, “All right. Go on.” Moe, “Hallowed be thy name…” God, “Hold it. What do you mean by that?” Moe, “By what?” God, “”Hallowed be thy name,” Moe, “It means, it means...Good grief. I don’t know what it means. How should I know? It’s just part of the prayer. What does it mean?” God, “It means honored, holy, wonderful.” Moe, “That makes sense. I never thought about what hallowed meant before. Let’s see, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” God, “Do you really mean that?” Moe, “Sure, why not?” God, “What are you doing about it?” Moe, “Doing? Nothing, I guess I just think it would be kind of neat if you controlled everything down here like you have up there.”

God, “”Have I got control of you?” Moe, “well, I go to church.”

God, “That’s not what I asked you. What about the way you put other people down. And then the way you spend your money-all on yourself. And what about the TV shows you watch?” Moe, “I’m just as good as some of the rest of those people at church.” God, “Excuse me. I thought you were praying for my will to be done. If that happens it will start with the ones who are praying for it.” Moe, “All right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. I could probably name some others.” God, “So could I.” Moe, “I haven’t thought about it, but I would like to, you know be really free.” God, “ Now we are getting somewhere. We’ll work together and win some victory. Moe, “Look Lord, this prayer is taking a lot longer than usual. Could we finish up some other time?” God, “Sure. I’ll always be here.”

Correction: Sue Hughes name was misspelled in the last issue. Nice to know Sue also known as Sue Baby is forgiving.

Almeda Moe

Moe’s grandfather is on his deathbed as the nurse, his wife, two children and Moe are at his bedside. With great effort grandpa says, "Moe, I want you to take the offices over in the Town and Country Center. Robert, I want you to take all my houses in Shadow Creek. Mary take the apartments over on 2234. And to you dear wife, please take all my stores in Almeda, Fresno and Arcola.” As Moe’s grandpa slips away, the nurse whispers to Moe, "Your grandfather must have been a hard working man to have accumulated so much property.” Moe replied, “Yeh, grandpa worked hard and he wanted to make sure we keep on working. He just gave us his delivery route.

FAMILY

Family is the basis for life,

Family is the beginning of life.

Family continues on and on,

Long after each individual life is gone.

Family life is much like a waterfall-

So much has gone on before and

Yet there is so much more to come-So much more to add to the Family Journal.

Sometimes family is like the rapids-

Just before the water pours over the falls.

At times the family is like the placid pool That forms down stream from the falls.

Family is like the banks of the river-

That holds the water on course.

Channeling and guiding it along the way-

That leads it on to its ultimate destination.

By Rose and Carol Andrews

HAPPY 94TH BIRTHDAY ROSE

December 5, 1919 Rose Buell Andrews graced a home built beside a dirt road. You can still see some of the oak trees grown from acorns which her father planted at Hiram Clarke and Anderson. Family means a lot to Rose. Besides interesting ancestors, she has four children, 15 grands, many greats, and great greats

ALMEDA COMMUNITY

Every 2nd Saturday of the month at 4pm at the Almeda U. Methodist Church 14300 Almeda School Road, citizens are meeting who are concerned about making the community a safer place to live and are also seeking ways to curb home invasions/break-ins, store robberies, and vandalism. Anyone interested is invited to attend. For more info you may contact Adolph Flores at adolph.flores@att.net. 713 433 2162 or Paulette Sewice 713-434-9852.

All computer classes require registration by calling 281 238 2952 or online at www.fortbend.lib.tx.us, click on Calendar, select Sienna Branch Library and find the program you want.

REP. REYNOLDS INDICTED

The Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted State Representative Ronald E. Reynolds on 10 counts of barratry. Barratry is most commonly applied to an attorney who attempts to bring about a lawsuit that will be profitable to her or him. The requirement for the crime of barratry is that repeated or persistent acts of litigation are performed by the accused. Barratry is generally a misdemeanor punishable by fine or imprisonment. Disbarment is the usual punishment.

Mobile BBQ Kitchen

16 X7 trailer 7ft. Pit/smoker 4 sinks Asking $17,000.

Call 281-451-0538 for more details.

Electric Hospital Bed

For Sale - $200 713-433-2162

Personal ads $1 a line.

CHRISTMAS AT THE PARK

George Ranch Historical Park will be a winter wonderland in Dec.

At the 1830s Jones Stock Farm, discover how the Old 300 celebrated Christmas on the frontier. Then, travel to the 1860s era to help decorate the homemade Christmas tree at the Ryon Prairie Home. On to the splendor of the holiday in the 1890s Davis Mansion, featuring fancy glass ornaments and stop in at the Sharecropper’s Farm to make paper chains and see other homemade decorations.

Enjoy the cowboy version of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Then, a Christmas Tradition Tour of the George House.

Sat. Workshops learn to make t produces a special homemade souvenir to take home. Lessons include Candle Making on Dec. 7, European Christmas Crackers on Dec. 14,Ornament Making on Dec. 21, and New Year Noise Makers on Dec. 28. Workshops at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for an additional fee of $5. Park admission is $10 kids $5. Call 281 343 0218 x 410 www.georgeranch.org

HUNTER DAVIS WHITEAUSTIN MILLER WHITE

Hunter White joined the Marines in 2008 fresh out of high school. Two years later he was in Afghanistan in an engineer unit building roads and FOBs. After he arrived back and was at his base in California he met Allison, a Marine sergeant. Six months after they were married, Allison was deployed to Africa. Hunter finished his tour and is going to electronics trade school.

No sooner did Hunter leave the service, his younger brother, Austin joined the Marines fresh out of high school. When he finished boot camp in August 2013, his mother made the trip to CA. for the second time to see a son graduate. Their mother, Diane Kingsbury, has worked at Pyburns since 1994. Diane is very proud of her sons. Their sister, Kaylin, has no desire to be in the military but she is also proud of her brothers.

Austin is studying communications. His grandmother, June White, knows about communicating as a former pastor of Almeda U. Methodist Church. Austin doesn’t plan to go into that type of communication, instead he plans to become a police officer.

We are thankful that Hunter is home safely in CA. and pray that Austin will return safely also.

About Me

I was born in Almeda where my grandparents and some great grandparents settled. I started writing a history of the area for the South Post Oak Press and then decided I could write my own paper in 1994 after I had written a book, Back Yonder In Almeda. Then my son, James fixed me up with a blog so I could put Our News on the web.
Our News now reaches down to Fresno and Arcola.